With the new boreholes installed by Voltic, a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, each community now has access to a regular supply of water.

“Water is a priority for Voltic because it is essential to life, our beverages and the communities we serve,” said Flora Jika, General Manager, Voltic.

“As part of the Coca-Cola system, our 2030 Water Security Strategy is focused on accelerating the actions needed to increase water security where we operate, source ingredients and touch people’s lives.

“We do that by contributing toward sustainable, clean water access that improves livelihoods and wellbeing,” said Jika.

“The 2030 Water Strategy is grounded in the fact that water is a shared resource. As such, our work is organised to address water security in our operations, our watersheds and our communities,” Jika said.

“Water is a priority for the Coca-Cola system because it is the first ingredient in all our beverages and is essential to the communities we serve.

“The Coca-Cola Company’s 2030 Water Security Strategy focuses on increasing water security. We work with partners to provide access to a steady supply of clean water for people and ecosystems in the areas where we operate and source ingredients,” Ramogase said.

“We do that by contributing toward sustainable, clean water access that improves livelihoods and wellbeing while protecting against water-related disasters.

“Inside our operations, we are committed to regenerative water use. This means using less water as well as re-using and treating wastewater.

“For example, in Kenya we opened a new wastewater treatment plant at our Equator Bottlers plant in Kisumu, which will promote more sustainable water use and help reduce the factory’s environmental impact. The new plant will enable us to treat and recycle wastewater generated from the production facility, which will be used for non-potable purposes such as irrigation and cleaning.

”Our subsidiary, Coca-Cola Beverages Botswana, signed an agreement last year with the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources to donate water from its newly installed water treatment plant for agricultural irrigation at the campus. The new state-of-the-art water treatment plant has made the company fully effluent compliant by ensuring that clean water is returned to the environment.

“For our packaging, we seek to drive a circular economy because this helps to reduce waste and carbon emissions. We’re working to use more recycled content in our packaging, to expand our use of refillable bottles, and to collect packaging for recycling through Coca-Cola’s World Without Waste initiative. We also partner to design new solutions for packaging.

“As an example, Coca-Cola and other like-minded industries came together in 2004 to set up the PET Recycling Company (PETCO) in South Africa to promote and regulate the recycling of PET plastic, taking responsibility for recovering and recycling beverage PET plastic bottles.

“The PETCO model has proven so effective it has been extended to three other markets, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia, with plans to include additional countries like Namibia.

“While we strive to make progress on our own, we are committed to fostering partnerships that drive collective impact in areas including water stewardship, packaging circularity, climate action and many more.

“We engage with stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, communities, suppliers, business partners, customers and consumers in all the markets where we operate, in many forums and formats. Feedback from our stakeholders allows us to learn and improve, and informs our business and sustainability strategy,” Ramogase said.

ENDS

Africa’s vulnerability to climate change was once again demonstrated in late 2023, when torrential rains swept across much of East Africa, bringing devastating floods just six months after a record-breaking five-season drought in the region.

Vast areas of farmland in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia were inundated, washing away homes and destroying thousands of hectares of crops.

These events highlight the urgency of improved water security and climate resilience on the continent.

Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) partners with governments, the private sector, NGOs and communities to promote water security. Water is a priority for Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) because it is essential to life, our beverages and the communities we serve.

The Coca-Cola Company’s 2030 Water Security Strategy is focused on accelerating the actions needed to increase water security where we operate, source ingredients and touch people’s lives.

We invest in water initiatives that benefit nature and communities. This includes projects that provide benefits to local watersheds that supply water for drinking, agriculture and manufacturing, restore and conserve habitats for plants and animals and offer opportunities for local economic development.

As part of this work, we collaborate with partners to understand the inextricable link between water, climate, agriculture and biodiversity.

In addition, many of our water replenishment projects have additional co-benefits such as helping improve soil health, sequester carbon, conserve water, restore degraded lands, contribute to biodiversity and help mitigate climate change.

Our work is organised to address water security inside our operations, in our watersheds and in our communities. Also, we continue to replenish the water we use in our finished beverages to nature and communities.

Inside our operations, the Coca-Cola system is committed to regenerative water use. This means using less water as well as re-using and treating wastewater.

For example, in Kenya we opened a new wastewater treatment plant at our Equator Bottlers plant in Kisumu, which will promote more sustainable water use and help reduce the factory’s environmental impact. The new plant will enable us to treat and recycle wastewater generated from the production facility, which will be used for non-potable purposes such as irrigation and cleaning.

Our subsidiary, Coca-Cola Beverages Botswana, signed an agreement last year with the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources to donate water from its newly installed water treatment plant for agricultural irrigation at the campus. The new state-of-the-art water treatment plant has made the company fully effluent compliant by ensuring that clean water is returned to the environment.

We also aim to improve the health of watersheds identified as most critical for our operations and agricultural supply chain by supporting nature-based solutions, investing in landscape solutions and helping farmers to use less water.

CCBA in Kenya has been actively engaged over the past three years in reforesting 90 hectares of critical forests that play a significant role in Nairobi’s water catchment areas in collaboration with implementing partner, Nature Kenya.

When it comes to communities, we aim to help provide access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and advocate for good water governance.

Our South African bottler, Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA), supported good water governance in Grabouw in the Western Cape, where the municipality was losing a significant amount of its potable water due to leaks and failing infrastructure. Through this partnership, we trained young community members in plumbing to support the rehabilitation of water infrastructure, including fixing leaks in informal areas.

In response to a looming Day Zero in parts of the Eastern Cape province in South Africa, CCBSA deployed off-grid, solar-powered groundwater harvesting and treatment projects called Cokevilles in the region. A total of nine systems, or water tanks, have been deployed in Gqeberha and similar Cokeville projects have been installed in other peri-urban and rural communities in Limpopo, Gauteng, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

We do business the right way as a trusted partner for sustainable growth by managing packaging waste, water stewardship, and economic inclusion, particularly for women and youth. We are committed to making a positive impact on people’s lives and communities for a better shared future in Africa.

Staff from Voltic (GH) Limited, members of the University of Ghana Plastic Recycling Project and the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly team joined forces to collect PET bottles for disposal by Beach Cleanup Ghana – a cleantech organisation that uses smart technology to help restore cleanliness to beaches in Ghana.

The cleanup was the second this year involving the same partners in a bid to remove plastic waste affecting the beach and lagoon.

“The interconnected global challenges of packaging waste and climate change have made this a focus for our business and communities. The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partners are taking a hard look at the packaging we use and how we can drive change,” said Worlasi Seddoh Bedu Mensah, Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability Manager at Voltic (GH) Limited, a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa.

“Our sustainable packaging strategy aims to create systemic change through a circular economy for our packaging – from how bottles are designed and manufactured, to how they’re recycled and reused.

“We have a responsibility to help solve the global plastic waste crisis, and we’re leveraging our scale and reach across markets to achieve our sustainability goals and reduce waste pollution.

“We can’t do it alone. We work with stakeholders, nonprofits, communities, governments and our industry toward a clean environment,” said Mensah.

“We are working in our communities to educate people on why and how to recycle through collection campaigns, on-package messaging and more to create a more sustainable environment for all.

“Tackling the global plastic waste crisis requires cross-sector collaboration and alignment on common principles and targets.

“We work with a range of stakeholders at a regional and local level. This includes partnering with governments and community organisations to strengthen recycling infrastructure and boost collection rates, collaborating with customers, peers and industry associations to shape public policy that supports a circular economy; and teaming up with suppliers, startups and R&D partners to fuel sustainable packaging innovation,” Mensah said.

ENDS

The two communities have been struggling to secure an adequate water supply as existing boreholes were not sustainable, but now have an additional daily capacity of 20,000 litres each, contributing to improved water security.

The handover ceremony was attended by Nana Kobina Anobi X, Chief of the Asuansi community, Emintsinminim Otu XI, Paramount Chief of Abora State, Ishmael Arthur, Principal of Asuansi School, Esi Sekyeraa Obeng, Headmistress of Abakrampa School, Willeyeven Obiri Awuah, DCE Abora Asebu Kwamankasi District and Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, Deputy Minister of Education.

Flora Jika, MD of Voltic, which is a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, said the company was a leader in using water responsibly in its operations and giving it back.

“We continue to manage water resources through projects that reduce water use in our operations, protect local water resources and provide safe, clean drinking water to communities in need,” Jika said.

“We focus our attention and resources on enhancing water management that helps our business, supply chain and local communities build resilience to a changing climate.”

“Across all our facilities, we conduct thorough assessments of local water resources and put water protection plans in place, so our presence doesn’t harm communities’ vital water resources.”

“Because people need water to thrive, we support local water access projects that help bring safe, clean drinking water to communities in need,” Jika added.

The Nkawie community, with an estimated population of 10,000 in an area rich in bauxite, suffered from water scarcity due to a limited supply. The installation of a borehole able to provide 20,000 litres of safe, potable water a day, has ensured reliable and convenient access to water. The community grows maize, plantain, yam and cassava.
The handover ceremony was attended by Nana Kwabena Nketia Marfo V and Nana Kontor Boakye Kyerewaa II, Chief and Queen Mother of Nkawie Payin.
He said: “I am very grateful to Voltic for this borehole because from today, the people of this community will gain access to clean water. I will personally also see to the preservation of this precious resource for the benefit of future generations.”

Voltic MD Flora Jika said the Coca-Cola Foundation had enabled the provision of safe water to the communities in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, to ensure access to water and sanitation for all.
“Reliable access to good, safe water is essential to life, nature, and the health of our communities,” said Jika.
“Across the world, approximately 2.1 billion people live in potentially water-scarce areas. Globally, over 80% of the wastewater generated by society flows back into the environment without being treated or re-used. By 2050, the global water demand will have increased by 30%.

“So, as the first ingredient in most of our beverages, safe, clean water is also critical to the long-term success of our business. We take our water stewardship responsibilities very seriously.
“CCBA, together with The Coca-Cola Company, are leaders in using water responsibly in our operations and giving it back. We continue to manage water resources through country projects that reduce water use in our operations, protect local water resources and provide safe, clean drinking water to communities in need.

In Gyankobaa, the community grows okra, garden eggs and maize and was reliant on streams and rivers for water, which was insufficient for their needs. The borehole commissioned by Voltic will ensure the population of about 5,000 people will have secure access to safe water.
Chief of Gyankobaa, Obofuo Atwimakwaa Boakye Darkwah II said: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Voltic for their immense support to this community. For years, our people have relied on streams for water that breed diseases but from today, we will no longer fall prey to such diseases.”

The Mmofra Nfadwene community of about 4,000 people has struggled with a lack of access to potable water as the only available source was a stream that flowed through the community which was not safe for human use.

The borehole has an installed capacity of 6,000 liters and can produce up to 20,000 liters of potable water a day.

The handover of the borehole to the Mmofra Nfadwene community in the Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality ceremony was attended by Chief Okoanadwo Afutu Dompreh II, Chief of Nsawam Adoagyiri.

He said: “I am very grateful to Voltic for this borehole because this community has been a victim of water shortages for years. I will personally ensure the preservation of this precious resource.”

Voltic was represented by Tshidi Ramogase, Group Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability Manager of CCBA, Voltic Managing Director Flora Jika, and Worlasi Seddoh, Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability manager and other members of the country management team.

Jika expressed her appreciation to the community for their support for the business.

“As a business, Voltic (GH) Limited has a strong commitment to supporting communities that lack access to safe, quality drinking water. This resonates with our commitment to SDG Goal 6, which aims at ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.”

“The South African foreign policy is imperative on Ubuntu and in pursuit of the AU agenda 2063 that targets creating environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient economies and communities. We also seek to strengthen the relationship between Ghana and South Africa,” said the High Commissioner of South Africa, Janet Grace Mason, who attended the event.

Yahoman in the Amasaman Municipality is a farming community of 3 200 that grows okra, garden eggs, and maize. The community has up to now relied for water on a dam that also serves as the source for cattle and other animals.

Principal Family Head of Yahoman, Augustine Nii Akrashie Sackey said: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Voltic for their immense support to this community. In the past, guinea worm diseases and the likes affected the people because we depended on the dam that dries up during the dry season, but from today, we will no longer fall prey to such diseases.”

Ramogase said as a primary ingredient in its products, water stewardship was a strong focus for CCBA.

“Reliable access to good, safe water is essential to life, nature, and the health of our communities,” said Ramogase.

“CCBA, together with The Coca-Cola Company, are leaders in using water responsibly in our operations and giving it back. We continue to manage water resources through projects that reduce water use in our operations, protect local water resources and provide safe, clean drinking water to communities in need.

“As part of the world’s leading Beverage Company, we have a responsibility to use water as respectfully and efficiently as possible. We’re continuously looking for new ways to reduce water use in our operations while treating our wastewater to the highest standards.

“Because people need water to thrive, we support local water access projects that help bring safe, clean drinking water to communities in need, and this borehole is one of many such projects throughout our operations on the continent.”

In Anoff, one of the beneficiary farming communities with about 4000 population, the new borehole will save children from having to cross the road to fetch water, which in the past has resulted in some of them being knocked down.

Meanwhile Fotobi, which also received a borehole, is a farming community of about 5000 people, known for commercial production of pineapple and tomatoes. Both are part of the Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality in the Eastern Region.

Managing Director, Voltic (GH) Limited, Flora Jika, encouraged community members to look after the water supply and ensure a good maintenance culture for the facility. In addition, she urged them to be mindful of keeping a clean environment and be good ambassadors by assisting with plastic recycling.

“As part of Coca-Cola’s sustainability initiative, we are passionate about helping communities where we operate with safe water to eradicate waterborne diseases. However, its maintenance starts and ends with us.

Let us always make sure the taps are closed after use so that we can have this borehole well-kept for years to come. We also have ongoing recycling drives and I would like to encourage you to manage plastic waste properly,” she said.

Touching on the significant role Voltic has played in the water resources management and supply sector across the country over the years, she said: “We are leaders in using water responsibly in our operations and giving it back. As part of the Coca-Cola system, we continue to manage water resources through projects that reduce water use in our operations, protect local water resources and provide safe, clean drinking water to communities in need.”

The local chief of Fotobi, Nana Osae Kofi II, said the community was grateful for the borehole because they have had to rely on a stream and other unhealthy water sources during the dry season.

“Cows and other animals also drink from it and this has exposed us to waterborne diseases and more, but today, that will no longer happen and it’s all thanks to Voltic. We will do our very best to maintain this valuable resource,” Nana Osae II, stated.

In similar vein, Chief of Anoff, Mankrado Annoma, said: “I am happy that Voltic has come to our aid because lack of water has resulted in our children getting knocked down by cars because of the busy road. I sincerely thank the Voltic team for their help.”